Loose-leaf binder apparatus

ABSTRACT

A loose-leaf paper binder having the appearance of a hard cover book and formed from a single piece of molded plastic. The paper is bound by three split rings which are each pivotably retained by a pair of ring bosses spaced along the inner back surfaces of the front and rear covers, one boss of each pair on the front cover and the other boss oppositely disposed along the rear cover. This attachment causes a double pivoting action of the rings during the opening and closing of the covers facilitating movement of the rings through the margin holes in the bound paper. The rings are retained within the ring bosses in a slightly expanded condition which biases the covers closed (when in their closed position) and open (when in their open position).

United States Patent [1 1 Notto LOOSE-LEAF BINDER APPARATUS [75]Inventor: Leonard A. Notto, St. Paul, Minn. [73 I Assignee: Data TacticsInca, St. Paul, Minn.

[22] Filed: May 28, 1971 [2]] Appl. No.: 147,979

[52] 11.8. C1. 402/21, 40/102 [51] Int. Cl B42f 13/02 [58} Field ofSearch 402/19, 20, 21, 22,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,639,361 8/1927 Adams401/21 3,458,216 7/1969 Harrison 40/124 X FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 485,313 7/1952 Canada 402/21 1,095,917 12/1954 France402/21 Nov. 13, 1973 Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell AssistantExaminer-J. H. Wolff Att0rneyMerchant & Gould [57] ABSTRACT A loose-leafpaper binder having the appearance of a hard cover book and formed froma single piece of molded plastic. The paper is bound by three splitrings which are each pivotably retained by a pair of ring bosses spacedalong the inner back surfaces of the front and rear covers, one boss ofeach pair on the front cover and the other boss oppositely disposedalong the rear cover. ,This attachment causes a double pivoting actionof the rings during the opening and closing of the covers facilitatingmovement of the rings through the margin holes in the bound paper.

The rings are retained within the ring bosses in a slightly expandedcondition which biases the covers closed (when in their closed position)and open (when in their open position).

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1 LOOSE-LEAF BINDER APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention pertains to apparatus for binding material in a loose-leafmanner.

At the present time, there are commercially available numerousdifferently designed loose-leaf binders. Typically, these binders areeither of a two or three-ring design, although binders having more thanthree rings are also available. Paper whichhas margin holes forinsertion onto these binder rings is commercially available in a widerange of sizes (8% by 11 inches). The binder rings are normally splitinto two 180 halves having one end of each half rigidly fastened (e.g.,spot welded or soldered) to a member which is connected in a rotatablemanner to the back cover portion of the binder. The movement of therotatable member or members opens the rings (i.e., splits the unfastenedends of the rings apart) to allow paper to be inserted onto the rings.Various mechanisms for separating the rings and for locking the rings intheir closed or unseparated position are known in the art. Mostfrequently, the cover portions of the presently available binders areformed from either an entirely plastic material or from a cloth orplastic covered cardboard-like material.

The greatest disadvantage of the commercially available loose-leafbinders is the difficulty in opening the binder cover without disruptingthe bound paper, particularly when the rings are nearly completely fullwith paper. This results primarily from the failure of the binder ringsto move freely or easily within the margin holes as the binder cover isopened or closed. Instead, the rings tend to drag the bound paper alongas the binder cover is moved causing (1) a difficulty in moving thecover generally and (2) a disruption (e.g., bending) of the bound paper.An additional disadvantage of the presently available loose-leaf bindersis the lack of durability of both the binder apparatus and the bindercovers resulting in undesirable replacement costs. Thus, a loose-leafbinder which provides easy' access to the material bound therein andwhich is also highly durable is commercially desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present loose-leaf binding apparatusincludes a front cover, a rear cover spaced apart from the front coverand a back cover connecting the front and rear covers. At least tworing-like members are provided for binding the material and each aresplit so as to define first and second ends. A rod-like protrusion isconnected to each of these ends extending generally outward therefromnormal to the ring-like member. One rod-like portion of each pair ispivotably attached to the front cover and the other rod-like portion ispivotally attached to the rear cover. This attachment provides a doublepivoting action of the ring-like members during the opening and closingof the front and rear covers. In the preferred embodiment, the binder isin the form of a book-like shell integrally formed from a molded plasticmaterial and selector means are provided for allowing the binder to beopened to a preselected page.

The double pivoting action of the ring-like members during the openingof the binder covergreatly facilitates the movement of the rings throughthe margin openings in the bound paper. Thus, ready access to the paperbound within the binder is provided. Additionally, the selector meanspreferably incorporated as a portion of the front cover allowspreselection of the material to which the binder will open. Moreover, inthe preferred embodiment the binder takes the form of a book-like shellmolded from .a plastic material (e.g., polypropylene) which is extremelydurable and which completely insulates the bound paper from thesurrounding environment. Numerous additional advantages will becomeapparent from reading the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of theloose-leaf binder provided by the present invention showing the binderin its closed position;

FIG. 2 is a top, fragmented view of the present book binder in its fullyopen position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmented view illustrating one of the binderrings utilized in the present invention and its attachment to the frontand rear covers;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane 55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is anenlarged cross-sectional view taken along the plane 6-6 ofFIG. 2; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the plane 77 ofFIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now to adescription of the embodiment illustrated, the numeral 10 generallydesignates the preferred loose-leaf binder provided by my invention. Assubsequently explained in greater detail, binder I0 is formed from asingle piece of molded plastic material in accordance with well knowninjection molding techniques. The external appearance of the closedbinder 10 (as shown in FIG. 1) closely resembles or approximates that ofa typical hard cover book. This greatly enhances the aestheticattractiveness of binder l0 relative to the presently availableloose-leaf binders. It also entirely insulates the paper or othermaterial bound within the book-like shell from the surroundingenvironmental elements (e.g., light, moisture, dirt, etc.). This greatlyincreases the useable life of the material bound therein. It should beunderstood, however, that while the illustrated design is highlydesirable, binder 10 can be constructed having any number of alternativedesigns.

The loose-leaf binder 10 includes a generally planar front cover 12, agenerally planar rear cover 14 spaced vertically apart from andgenerally parallel to front cover 12, and a back cover 16 connecting thefront and rear covers. Three side surfaces 17, 18 and 19 extendvertically between the front and rear covers 12 and 14 along the upper,lower and front edges, respectively, of the binder 10. As can be seenparticularly well in FIG. 1, the side surfaces l7, l8 and 19 each have aroughened or grooved exterior face giving these surfaces the appearanceof the edge of a book (i.e., the appearance of overlying pages in abound volume). The side surfaces 17, 18 and 19 each have an upper andlower half separated by a split or division through each of thesesurfaces. This allows the binder 10 to be opened in the book-like mannershown in FIG. 2, the two halves of side surfaces 17, 18 and 19separating along the center split therein.

The front and rear covers 12 and 14 also have a roughened outer face soas to give the appearance of a leather grain finish thereto. Back cover16 has a surface which is less roughened than covers 12 and 14,simulating the linen texture of a conventional book binding. A titleplate 25 is imbedded in the front cover portion 12. In the preferredembodiment, the title plate 25 is formed from a photo sensitizedaluminum plate or any other suitable material. A title plate 26 ofsimilar material is imbedded in the outer face of the back cover orbinding 16. As will subsequently be described in greater detail, thefront cover 12 preferably includes selector means 28 for allowing binderto open to a preselected page.

In the embodiment shown, a curved portion 30 of front cover 12 extendsarcuately inward along a bead 31 extending along the length of cover 12.Similarly, a curved portion 32 of the rear cover 14 extends arcuatelyinward along a bead 33. As shown, the two curved cover portions 30 and32 define substantially the entire back cover 16. A thin, flexible backcover portion 35 connects the two curved cover portions 30 and 32 andfunctions as a fulcrum or joint means for the opening and closing of thecovers 12 and 14. As can be seen particularly well in FIG. 6, the coverportion 35 is sufficiently flexible to allow the front cover 12 to beopened through a 180 are so as to lie in the same plane as rear cover14. Preferably, the book-like shell is constructed from a polypropylenematerial by conventional injection molding techniques. This provides ahighly durable and impact resistant binder. In this embodiment, athickness of about 0.090 inches for cover portion 35 provides thedesired flexibility, yet provides a binder 10 which can withstand alarge number of openings and closings.

Turning now to the internal construction of binder 10, reference shouldbe had to FIGS. 2-7. As shown in FIG. 2, three split ring binder members42a, 42b and 42c are provided for binding a plurality of paper sheets 43in a loose-leaf manner (i.e., each page is bound separately from theother pages). As can be seen particularly well in FIG. 6, the integralmembers 42a-42c each include a planar ring shaped-portion 44 ofsubstantially 360 having adjacent first and second ends 45 and 46,respectively, which define the split in the respective ring portions.Formed integrally with each of the ring portions 44 is a pair ofrod-like protrusions 47 and 48 which project laterally outward at thering ends 45 and 46, respectively, generally normal to the plane of therespective ring portion 44. The rings are preferably made from aresilient material (e.g., a high quality steel).

Three pairs of ring bosses 50, 51 and 52 are provided for retaining thering members 42a-42c, respectively, in the proper position for bindingthe sheets of paper 43. Each pair of ring bosses includes threelongitudinally spaced members 55a, 55b and 550 positioned along thecurved front cover portion 30 and three similarly positioned members56a, 56b and 560 along the curved rear cover portion 32 (as shown inFIG. 3). The boss members 55a-55c and 56a-56c are preferably integrallymolded as part of the curved cover portions 30 and 32 of the front andrear covers 12 and 14, respectively. Thus, the boss members 55a55c and56a-56c move with the front and rear covers 12 and 14 during the openingand closing thereof. Each of these boss members includes a recess alongthe innermost edge thereof which cooperates with the curved coverportion contiguous thereto so as to define an opening or groove 60.Three such grooves 60 are similarly disposed along opposite sides of thecover portion 35 for each pair of ring bosses 50-52. A greater or lessernumber of grooves could, of course, be utilized. The longitudinallyspaced grooves 60 on one side of cover portion 35 receives the rod-likeportion 47 of'each of the ring members 42a-42c in a snap-lock manner.The grooves 60 on the opposite side of cover portion 35 receivesrod-like portion 48 in a similar manner. While secured within grooves 60by this snap-lock action, each of the rod-like portions 47 and 48 isfree to axially turn or pivot therein.

As shown, each of the rod-like portions 47 and 48 is retained by thering bosses 50-52 so as to extend generally parallel to the back cover16. So secured, the ring portion 44 of each of the ring members 42a-42cproject outwardly from the rear cover 16 generally normal thereto towardthe front surface 19 of binder 10. A ring retainer 62 integrally moldedas a part of the curved cover portions 30 and 32 and longitudinallyspaced from each of the end boss members 55a and 56a retains therod-like portions 47 and 48 within the respective bosses (i.e., preventslongitudinal movement of the rod-like members out of grooves 60).

As shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6, the ring portion 44 of split ringmembers 42a42c has a generally el' lipitical shape prior to theinsertion of rod portions 47 and 48 into grooves 60, placing the rodportions generally adjacent one another. Thus, to position the rods 47and 48 within the respective grooves 60, the ring members must beslightly separated to align the rod portions with the grooves. Thisseparation places the inserted ring members under a slight tension. As aresult, the split ring members 42a-42c apply a biasing force to each ofthe curved cover portions 30 and 32. This biasing force tends to retainthe binder 10 in its closed position when cover 12 is closed (as shownin FIG. 5) and to retain the binder 10 in its open position when cover12 is opened (as shown in FIG. 6).

The selector means 28 includes a guide channel extending along theforward edge of front cover 12 and an index selector 72. The indexselector 72 includes an index button 73 moveable within guide channel 70and an index finder or finger 74 attached to button 73. An upper portion74a of finger 74 extends vertically downward through an opening 75 inthe bottom of guide channel 70. A lower portion 74b of finger 74 extendshorizontally inward so as to move beneath tabs attached to the frontedge of each sheet of paper 43 (as shown in FIG. 5). Typically, an indexlisting of the material contained within binder 10 is provided along theside of title plate 25 adjacent channel guide 70. Thus, by movingselector button 73 to a position opposite the desired item on the indexlisting, the index finger portion 74b will engage the appropriate tab 80so as to open binder 10 to the preselected material. While theadvantages of incorporating selector means with my binder are readilyapparent, it should be understood that this is not a necessary featureof the present invention.

As can be seen particularly well in FIG. 7, the covers 12 and 14 areretained in their closed position by a magnetic lock assembly 82.Assembly 82 includes a permanent magnet 85 molded or inserted within thelower portion of front surface 19 and a magnetically attractive material86 which is molded or inserted within the upper portion of surface 19.It should be understood, however, that numerous alternative lockingmechanisms can be utilized.

In use, the sheets of paper 43 are inserted onto the rings 42a-42c priorto the attachment of the rings to the respective ring bosses 50-52.After-inserting the paper 43 onto the rings, the rods .47 and 48 arethen pulled apart to obtain alignment thereof with the grooves 60 ineach of the ring bosses. The rods 47 and 48 are then pivotally securedwithin grooves 60 by a snap-lock action and the binder is ready foropening and closing of the covers.

It will be apparent to the artisan that numerous modifications can bemade to the described embodiment. In this regard, numerous such designalternatives have been pointed out hereinabove. This being the case, itis my intent to be limited solely by the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for binding sheets of material, comprising:

a. front and rear covers having arcuately converging back portionsconnected by flexible joint means to form a book-like binder apparatushaving an arcuate back;

b. at least two generally circular, split-ring binder members, eachbinder member including a ringlike portion adapted to be positionedgenerally normal to said covers and having first and second spaced ends,and further including laterally protruding means connected to each ofsaid ends;

c. a parallel array of boss-like ring retainers extending normally fromeach of the arcuately facing back portions of both said covers, saidring retainers being situated in oppositely disposed pairs adjacent saidjoint means and on opposite sides thereof;

d. means on said ring retainers for removably engaging said protrudingmeans with each of said protruding means matingly engaging plural ringretainers on each of said back portions so as to permit relative pivotalmovements therebetween during opening and closing of said covers, saidring retainers in each pair being spaced apart a distance generallycorresponding to the thickness of said binder member associatedtherewith to aid in supporting said binder member in said normalposition during opening and closing movements of said cover;

whereby the pivot points of said ends of each said binder member beingbetween two oppositely dis- .posed pairs of said ring retainers adjacentsaid joint means on opposite sides thereof and at equal distancestherefrom to permit opening and closing of said covers withoutsubstantially flexing said binder members.

2. The binding apparatus of claim 1 wherein said front and rear coversare integrally formed from a molded plastic material.

3. The binding apparatus of claim 2 wherein said joint means comprises athin, flexible piece of molded plastic material connecting said backportions.

4. The binding apparatus of claim 2 including side surfaces of moldedplastic material extending between said front and rear covers to form abook-like shell, each of said side surfaces having a split extendingessentially parallel to said front and rear covers adjacent the centerof each of said surfaces to allow said front and rear covers to beopened and closed.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said joint means is located withinsaid binder members when the covers are open, and is located outsidesaid binder members when the covers are closed, said joint means passingbetween said ends of said binder members during opening and closing ofsaid covers.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said arcuate back engages a majorportion of said binder members when said covers are closed.

1. Apparatus for binding sheets of material, comprising: a. front andrear covers having arcuately converging back portions connected byflexible joint means to form a book-like binder apparatus having anarcuate back; b. at least two generally circular, split-ring bindermembers, each binder member including a ring-like portion adapted to bepositioned generally normal to said covers and having first and secondspaced ends, and further including laterally protruding means connectedto each of said ends; c. a parallel array of boss-like ring retainersextending normally from each of the arcuately facing back portions ofboth said covers, said ring retainers being situated in oppositelydisposed pairs adjacent said joint means and on opposite sides thereof;d. means on said ring retainers for removably engaging said protrudingmeans with each of said protruding means matingly engaging plural ringretainers on each of said back portions so as to permit relative pivotalmovements therebetween during opening and closing of said covers, saidring retainers in each pair being spaced apart a distance generallycorresponding to the thickness of said binder member associatedtherewith to aid in supporting said binder member in said normalposition during opening and closing movements of said cover; whereby thepivot points of said ends of each said binder member being between twooppositely disposed pairs of said ring retainers adjacent said jointmeans on opposite sides thereof and at equal distances therefrom topermit opening and closing of said covers without substantially flexingsaid binder members.
 2. The binding apparatus of claim 1 wherein saidfront and rear covers are integrally formed from a molded plasticmaterial.
 3. The binding apparatus of claim 2 wherein said joint meanscomprises a thin, flexible piece of molded plastic material connectingsaid back portions.
 4. The binding apparatus of claim 2 including sidesurfaces of molded plastic material extending between said front andrear covers to form a book-like shell, each of said side surfaces havinga split extending essentially parallel to said front and rear coversadjacent the center of each of said surfaces to allow said front andrear covers to be opened and closed.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinsaid joint means is located within said binder members when the coversare open, and is located outside said binder members when the covers areclosed, said joint means passing between said ends of said bindermembers during opening and closing of said covers.
 6. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein said arcuate back engages a major portion of said bindermembers when said covers are closed.